The Ballad of the White Horse

The Ballad of the White Horse is a poem by Gilbert Keith Chesterton that was first published in 1911. It is primarily about King Alfred's victory over the Danes in 878, but it also elaborates on the conflict between native Celtic religions and Christianity. Chesterton uses the mysterious image of the Vale of the White Horse as a representation of the traditions that preserve humanity.

The poem is composed of eight books, including The Harp of Alfred and The Slaying of the Chiefs. It starts with Alfred being abandoned by his allies to face the invading Danish forces alone. He receives divine intervention from the Virgin Mary, who encourages him to reclaim his kingdom. Alfred then launches a war that culminates in total victory.

Chesterton completes the poem by tackling the issues of peace. In particular, the author describes the situation where warriors who have achieved victory in battle now have to fight corruption at home. This is symbolized by the fact that when Alfred returns from war, he finds that weeds have grown over the White Horse.

The Ballad of the White Horse was often cited by British leaders during the early days of the Second World War. It has also had a significant impact on other authors and English literature.